Half sister

Harley Finley POV

My gut twisted at the sight in front of me. There had to be over a hundred people gathered around, all wearing black tux's or dresses. Their heads bowed in a respectful manner to the man being lowered into the ground. Cries and sobs could be heard from the back, where I stood, hiding from everyone.

I couldn't face them. I didn't want to.

My big black sunglasses hid me from the crowd, just long enough for me to witness Jim, my father, being lowered six feet under. People spoke softly, talking about wonderful memories with him and how Jim was such a giving person.

I held back my protesting remarks with a middle finger raised in my pocket. But even that didn't stop the tears.

Sure, we hadn't talked in five years before Jim's sudden death. And right before I left he told me how much he disliked his own daughter. I wished for years he would have changed. That I would have been given the chance to see Jim in the same light as everyone else.

Especially my brother, Elijah, who stood at the front of the crowd with tears staining his cheeks.

Elijah was my half brother, five years older and the most caring soul towards me in my upbringing. He was my fatherly figure through school and hardships and the only one to keep in contact with me when I left to build my own life.

Even if it was only through a few texts every other year, at least he tried.

It hurt to see him crumbling in front of so many people. Even if he saw them as friends and family, they were strangers to me. And I refuse to let them see me cry over a man who never loved me.

I listened to everyone say their peace. My eyes trained to the ground with my hands stuffed in my oversized black coat pockets.

And once Jim's casket was buried, I tried to leave. I really fucking did. But seeing Elijah cry was enough to get me to stay for just a few more moments.

I waited in the line of people that were paying him respects, saying they're sorry for his loss and making promises of helping in anyway. Then it was my turn.

My heart raced as I approached my brother. He was the one who told me of Jim's passing, but I wasn't sure how he'd take me actually being here.

"Elijah." I could barely say. It was a name I hadn't verbally said in years.

His big brown eyes moved upwards until he was looking at me. His face softened and contorted into another weep as he took in my appearance before he pulled me into his embrace.

"Harley." He whimpered. "I'm glad you came."

I solemnly nodded, squeezing him back. "It'll be okay." I ran my fingers through his thick long hair like I had always done when I was younger.

"Are you coming to the wake?"

"No." I sighed, pulling away from him.

"Just for an hour." Elijah silently begged. "It's been years since I've seen you. Let's catch up and talk for an hour. That's all I'm asking."

I sighed quietly, fiddling with my fingers in front of him. "Okay. Only for you though."

"Thank you." He kissed my cheek before hugging me again, in a bone crushing brotherly hug.

"Alright, Eli." I giggled in his grasp. "You can let go of me now."

As I walked back to my car, I felt my heart filling slightly. The cold emptiness, that I accepted after leaving my small hometown, felt a ting of love. Even when I pulled up to Jim's house, the one I spent seventeen years of my life in, I still felt it. Even when people I barely remembered came up to me, holding me close to their chest, expressing their gratitude towards my deadbeat father, I felt it.

That little spark in my chest turned to an emotional explosion once I walked into my old room.

Everything was the same as it was five years ago. The Justin Bieber, Taylor Lautner and Timberlake posters I had yanked out of magazines were still taped to the wall, leaving no white paint exposed. My bed was still sloppily made with my baby blue comforter and million throw pillows I just had to buy with my first real paycheck.

All the hangers I had ripped out of the closet in an attempt to rush out of the house still littered the floor. The snow globes he had bought me as a child smashed on the ground right where I had thrown them at Jim when he told me he disowned me.

The room was like a time capsule. Nothing had changed from the night I left.

"He came in here a lot." Elijah spoke softly from behind me.

I jumped slightly, holding my now throbbing chest.

"He didn't mean it when he said he never loved you." Elijah continued speaking as he walked next to me, placing a hand at my lower back. "He was a tough guy, he didn't know how to deal with woman, let alone his little girl."

I felt the tears running down my face. "He hated me after my mother died. He thought it was my fault. He did mean it and I'm glad I left."

I took a step forward, rushing my shaking fingers under my eyes to hide the fact I was hurting.

"Dad gave me this," Elijah sighed as he stuffed a plain white envelope into my pocket. "He wrote it awhile ago but never had the chance to give it to you."

I pat my jacket, feeling the added thickness.

"Can I introduce you to my fiancé? I know it's already been an hour of you here but I really want her to meet you." Elijah spoke softly like he always had with me.

"Yeah. Just tell me I don't look like a total wreck right now." I faced him with a grimace, forcing my lips to curl upwards.

Elijah let out a throaty chuckle and shook his head as he guided me back down the stairs. "We all look like shit, Lee."

As soon as we hit the bottom stairs, people were surrounding us again. Some of which I remembered.

Rocco was a big burley man with a stomach that most likely hid a body. He was Jims best friend, a man who saw me grow up throughout the years and gave me shit for being a girly girl at times.

Hudson was a guy my age I had went to school with, though back then he was a thin and short but now, his muscle was filled to perfection. His voice deeper and rough around the edges with a beard braided down to his chest, making him look ten years older than he was.

"Oh, and this is my best friend," Elijah started motioning towards the sexy tattooed man that fucked me numb last night. My heart stopped in its tracks, looking at his dark eyes that checked me out. "Colten, this is Harley."

"Harley." Colten smirked repeating Elijah, showing off his insanely white teeth.

My body shook at his rough voice. Everything in me ready to repeat the risky escapades from last night.

I smiled back, extending a hand to him for the only reason to feel his rough calloused fingers that dug into my shoulder. He met me halfway, allowing me to run a thumb over his tattooed knuckle.

"Nice seeing you again, Colt." I gave a small wink. Elijah eyed the two of us with a confused expression.

"How do you....."

Before Elijah could finish a very, heavily pregnant woman grabbed him by the arm.

Her tanned skin was glowing as she held a plate of food in her hands, right above her stomach as if it was a table.

"Harley! It's so nice to finally meet you!" She exclaimed trying to hide the fact that there was a pile of cheese in her mouth.

"Hi, I'm sorry. Elijah hasn't told me your name." I admitted, looking down to her belly.

"Of course he didn't." She rolled her eyes, glaring at her fiancé like she was going to kill him before he had a chance to meet their child. "It's Chloe."

Chloe looked to her stomach, eyeing my confused look.

"Did you not tell her you're expecting? Elijah Finley, What the fuck." Chloe stomped her foot, slapping Elijah in the arm.

Elijah still continued to look between me and Colt with a brow raised, ignoring his upset, pregnant girl.

"We haven't had the chance to talk." I interjected, not ready for the tiff she was about to get into with him. "Is this going to be my little niece or nephew?"

"Niece and nephew." Elijah smiled, placing both his hands to Chloe's stomach with a smile to die for.

"Wow. Twins." I ogled between the four. "That's crazy. Congratulations."

"We're due in two months. I was hoping you'd maybe come back. You know, since you already met Chloe, you mine as well meet the little ones when they show up." Elijah shrugged acting as if it didn't matter to him. But I saw it. The longing of having his little sister be an auntie to his children.

I scratched my neck nervously and looked around at everyone staring at me. Including Colten. His brows raised at the whole ordeal mimicking Elijah's earlier glance.

"Wait," Colten interjected with a chuckle, thankfully. I wasn't ready to tell Elijah I was never coming back here. "She's your sister? Oh shit."

"Half sister." Elijah answered with a smile which quickly turned into pursed lips as he eyed Colten's shifting stance.

I narrowed my eyes to the two of them. Elijah wouldn't make a big deal out of this. Right? I mean, I'm a grown woman. Plus how would he even know?

"Is my little sister the one you told me about fucking last night?" Elijah spoke so softly, the words came out like air.

Colten looked at him with a mischievous look, backing away slowly. "Half sister." He corrected with a finger in the air before bolting out of the house. Elijah chased after him into the front yard.

Everyone followed, mostly out of amusement. God, I forgot this shit was like entertainment to these people.

"You fucked her against Hudson's truck?!" Elijah yelled, grabbing Colten by his shirt and tackling him to the ground.

"If I knew she was related to you, I would have came inside of her too." Colten laughed as they wrestled on the ground.

"You mother fucker!"

"You got good genes in the family, man. What can I say?" Colten shot back, as if egging him on.

"Should I be worried?" I asked Chloe as she continued to eat and watch the two men fight like high school boys at a wrestling tournament.

"Nah. They'll kiss and make up in an hour." Chloe shrugged, rubbing her belly softly.